Wednesday, October 28, 2009

It has now been sixty days (60) since General Stanley McChrystal presented our President with a plan to achieve success in Afghanistan. Don’t get sucked in by that drivel about the Afghani election – it doesn’t matter who is in charge in Kabul, Americans are still fighting and dying in Afghanistan. Stop the madness – support the troops. While any policy deserves review from time-to-time, when the Nation is at war, that should be a constant and on-going event so this request for a decision shouldn’t come as a surprise to an administration that is properly focused.

President Obama is responsible right now for American deaths that might have been averted were the Taliban and Al Qaeda to have been demoralized by a decisive response to that request. Each day the President delays a decision continues to give hope to our enemies that they can affect change in Afghanistan – is that what the President means by “hope and change?”

We expect you to use your influence to get the President’s attention. In the constitution the very first duty that is listed for the President is that of Commander-in-Chief – it is first for a reason. The constitution does not authorize or require the President to do most of what he is currently engaged in – you need to focus him. A good way to do that would be to refuse to work on any other White House legislation until he supports General McChrystal and the troops – the majority of Virginians don’t support the President’s legislative agenda anyway.

Monday, October 26, 2009

General Stanley McChrystal provided you with a report that details his plan for victory on 30 August of this year. That is 58 days ago. I don’t think I should have to remind you that this is your general, fighting the war that you said was essential, executing your plan, that has been approved you your (our) allies in NATO. Let’s get the ridiculous out of the way first – it doesn’t matter what kind of government is the titular head of Afghanistan – we still have tens of thousands of American and allied troops fighting in Afghanistan – they deserve an answer now. We deserve an answer now. Fifty-eight days – imagine if you were over there at risk each and every day – what would you think about the guy who was waffling about making a decision?

I applauded your decision to reinforce Afghanistan in the infancy of your Presidency. You need to follow through now and support that decision. What you should learn from the Viet Nam experience is that incrementally increasing troop strength is wrong. A massive infusion of combat power into the theater will make a decisive difference as it did in Iraq. Even though you are an Iraq success denier, you should be able to see that.

Your job description is in Article II of the United States Constitution. Section 1 deals entirely with the election process. Section 2 begins the specific areas where you are authorized and directed to focus your efforts. The very first thing is your position as Commander-in-Chief. It is first for a reason – Commander-in-Chief was placed first intentionally by the Founding Fathers - because it is the most important. You will note that nowhere among your duties is it mentioned that you should save businesses, stimulate the economy, change the health care system, chase the Olympics, or discourage the use of fossil fuels.

Be a Commander-in-Chief and win the war in Afghanistan. Democrats always want to be in charge, they just don’t want to be responsible for the results – well you are responsible now Mr. President. The troops deserve your very best effort every moment of every day. Don’t get distracted by things that are not in your purview to address.

Friday, October 23, 2009

In a recent History Channel special on Siberia one historian pointed out that Siberia under the Soviet Union didn’t suffer from “under development, but wrongful development.” In other words, development directed by government rather than market forces was nearly always wrong. For example, nationalizing the auto and health industries makes good sense to a socialist ideologue; it doesn’t work in a free market economy. Now the Obama administration is called upon to respond to H1N1 or the Swine Flu. How are they doing?

This week it was reported that we the people had been promised 120 million doses of the vaccine by this time – 13 million have been distributed. While the production of vaccines is a laborious process – does anyone ever remember having this kind of crisis before? You see when one’s principle qualifications for a government appointment are a socialist ideology and a lack of practical experience in a discipline related to your new job – getting things done might be a problem.

Following in the footsteps of famous disasters like the cash for clunkers program, the flu season is about to make fools of the Obama administration. While the pesky little virus does bear some responsibility, the government’s heavy handed effort to seem relevant to the American public is the real villain. The Obama administration is using their time-tested emergency announcement now applied to what is turning out to be a slightly above average flu season. The season would have been nearly normal except for the fact that this rookie batch of socialists has scared the crap out of everyone. How are they going to deal with the fallout now that their mismanagement of the phony crisis is projected to result in 61% of us being exposed to the H1N1 virus before we get access to the vaccine?

They seized on swine flu because it is another path to power. Heil Obama, mmm, mmm, mmm. Conservative Resistance – Day 354

Monday, October 19, 2009

The top US General in Afghanistan asked for additional combat power to prosecute the war. It is unconscionable to have the President of the United States dithering around while American men and women are in daily combat with our Nation’s enemies. To attach such a decision on reinforcing those troops in Afghanistan to electoral problems with their past election compounds the insanity. Our troops are in jeopardy no matter who is in charge and no matter what form of government is running Afghanistan. You must forcefully act now to end this ridiculous indecision on the part of the President. Get General McChrystal in front of Congress now for a public discussion of the subject. The President of the United States and the democrat dominated Congress is responsible now for American deaths that need not have happened were there to have been additional US combat power in Afghanistan. If an outpost is under manned, if there is not sufficient mobility in theater to reinforce it when attacked, if the Taliban are not overwhelmingly defeated each time they pop out – then this post 20 January 2009 government is responsible for the failure of our arms and for every death and maiming that results. Get the troops the help they need or get them the hell out of there now. Sincerely Yours,

Sunday, October 18, 2009

I have sworn off watching professional football as a result of the recent controversy over Rush Limbaugh and the Saint Louis Rams. I’m not some committed “ditto-head” though I do listen to Rush when I happen to be in the car during his show. What you and the National Football League have done is simply disgraceful. Even were Rush Limbaugh guilty of the things that were alleged (increasingly we find out he wasn’t) there is no moral equivalent between Limbaugh and an organization that harbors a collection of drug addled social misfits like the NFL. The league of Roger Staubach has deteriorated to the league that enables Michael Vick. Shame on all of you.

Let me explain the issue with an analogy. I love ketchup, but I don’t buy Heinz products because Teresa Heinz funnels money to support radical, anti-American Senator John Kerry. I haven’t purchased or drunk a Miller product for decades because of their support of the radical homosexual agenda. Those two things are my absolute right as an American – however I have no right to prevent Teresa Heinz Kerry from pedaling ketchup or Miller from selling beer. That is where you erred; no one has the right or the responsibility to prevent Rush Limbaugh from buying anything. If the public or the players had a problem with the sale of the Rams, then the public could switch their allegiance to another team or another sport – the same is true for the players. That is the American way.

Honestly I abandoned professional football long ago though I would watch an occasional Monday night or play-off game. For the first time I didn’t watch the Super Bowl last year – I just didn’t care about watching a bunch of selfish and self-absorbed millionaires run around at ¾ speed. I played football in high school 38 years ago and I love the sport, but the bulk of my football attention has been diverted to college ball for many years now. I am already thinking of hosting an alternative party to the Super Bowl at the end of this season. Perhaps we will watch vintage games from when football produced players like Rocky Bleier and not Pac-Man Jones.

Saturday, October 17, 2009

It is amazing to see the angst of this administration over the Afghanistan war. President Obama has fallen into the typical liberal trap – Democrats want to fight any war except the one we are in. So even though Candidate Obama continued to slam the Bush administration and his opponent over “taking their eyes off the ball in Afghanistan” now that Obama owns the war he said we had to fight – he doesn’t want to prosecute it anymore.

I think that part of the problem is that liberals actually believe that there can be a world without war - an America engaged on the world stage without conflict. That view is quite naive and entirely impossible. For the overwhelming majority of our history the nation has been at war in one form or another. Whether fighting the English, French, Barbary Pirates, Indians, Mexicans, or each other, our country was conceived and forged in war. What most people don’t know is that even in times of relative peace soldiers, sailors, Marines, Coast Guardsmen, and later airmen have fought innumerable battles against nation states, pirates, renegades, and criminals all over the globe. We ended the 19th century at war with Spain and China. The early years of the 20th century saw us in various Caribbean and South American “Banana Wars.” Of course there was WWI and WWII as well as Korea, Viet Nam, Lebanon, Panama, El Salvador, Grenada, Gulf War I, Gulf War II, and Afghanistan. Anyone who thinks there has been peace for these United States doesn’t know our history.

Peace is illusive, particularly when you are not willing to fight. Now we have a Nobel Laureate for a President but we don’t have a Commander-in-Chief. Standby – our enemies are going to take savage advantage of that.

Wednesday, October 14, 2009

I’m not sure that I’m ready to let go of the ridiculous and inappropriate gift of a Nobel Peace Prize to an ineffective American apologist like President Barack Obama. As Glen Beck pointed out – the award of the Nobel Peace Prize to someone who hasn’t really done anything is not unusual in this day and age of “participation” awards. Wesley Pruden expressed many of my feelings and provides some interesting context in PRUDEN: Obama's ignoble prize: http://www.washingtontimes.com/news/2009/oct/13/pruden-obamas-ignoble-prize/ However the very best depiction might be the editorial cartoon "The 2009 Nobel Prize Recipient" at: http://www.washingtontimes.com/photos/2009/oct/14/59752/

There seems as if there will be no end to the ridiculous accolades for a man of mysterious background and sparse accomplishment. He wrote two autobiographies yet we know very little about him. He conducted an “historic campaign” not because he is half black, but because he is possibly the least qualified man to ever run, much less win the Presidency. Now the irony wrapped in an irony, he “wins” the Nobel Peace Prize – even days later I remain stunned.

Monday, October 12, 2009

"We should not be punishing Patriotic Americans who have stepped forward to serve this country. We should be celebrating their willingness . . . . . . . I will end don’t ask don’t tell. That’s my commitment to you" President Barack Obama speaking to homosexuals in Philadelphia, 10 Oct 2009

Every year tens of thousands of the Nation’s finest young people flood into recruiting stations to join the ranks of the United States military. Winnowing the wheat from the chaff occurs before anyone meets a recruiter regardless of service. Hundreds of millions of Americans eliminate themselves from consideration because they don’t want to experience the danger, hardship, or endure the discipline inherent with military service. Many of those will profess love for their country but won’t risk sweating much less bleeding for her. Now enter a tiny minority who profess that they want to serve their country openly as homosexual men and women.

First of all, no matter how pure or well intentioned your desire to be in the military, no one has the inherent right to be a soldier, sailor, airman, Marine, or Coast Guardsman. We reject thousands of applicants every year at the recruiting stations. Applicants who don’t meet the minimum requirements for education, health, or morality go home disappointed. Even after they pass that screening still thousands more don’t make it through recruit or officer initial training. During my time at Marine Recruit Depot San Diego the attrition rate for Marine recruits generally averaged 12%. Still more service members are involuntarily ejected from the military every year for violations of the Uniform Code of Military Justice or medical reasons. Even more members are not allowed to remain in uniform or reenlist if they fail to advance in rank.

Second, we all serve based on the needs of our particular service. The term “service” implies unselfish and patriotic motivation. Though many are no doubt lured by promises of training, bonuses, and adventure, those things are of little consequence when one meets the glare of a Drill Instructor or is exposed to extreme danger. A service member might be refused continued service because of his training even though his service was otherwise superior. As the Marine Corps phased out A-6 Intruder aircraft, those Marines expert in A-6 maintenance were no longer needed. It was regrettable, even heart-breaking at times, but the very nature of service meant that the needs of the Marine Corps were greater than that of any single Marine or group of Marines. The needs of all of the services are greater than the personal desires of any individual American.

Finally, with apologies to Peter Drucker - Help is defined by the recipient. The fact that you want to help may be admirable, but if your attempt to serve will be disruptive or put other service members unnecessarily at risk – then it won’t be helpful. If your homosexual identity is more important to you than your patriotism – it isn’t about service, it is about you. There are plenty of other ways to show your patriotism – volunteer at the Red Cross or the USO. Give your old car to the Purple Heart Society or send a donation to the Wounded Warriors. Vote for people who will support and defend our troops – those are almost entirely Republicans at this point. Practice your patriotism by strengthening America by defeating socialism. Leave the serve to those who want to serve – not prove a point.

Wednesday, October 7, 2009

You are probably going to think that this is very unfair, but then again you fought like hell to get this job. You are stuck with a war in Afghanistan that you said we have to win. It doesn’t matter how we got there, but you will be responsible for how we end that war. Now the General that you picked said he needs more troops in order to win it for you. You are now specifically responsible for the results and more importantly the lives of tens of thousands of service members and millions of Afghanis. Let me give you some advice:

General Stan McChrystal is a National treasure. He represents something that you have no prior experience with. He is a selfless and dedicated public servant who will tell you the unvarnished truth no matter what it costs him. He is the only man that you know who is qualified to provide you with an opinion that matters. With the exception of Jim Jones, you don’t have anyone in your team who has an opinion on Afghanistan that is worth spit.

Don’t listen to Joe Biden. If your Vice President had sat in the Senate for 100 years, it still wouldn’t qualify him to contradict the reasoned judgment of most second lieutenants. If Joe Biden is the one you depend on for military advice, you are doomed to fail.

This isn’t about politics or payback or redistribution. It doesn’t have anything to do with fairness – life ain’t fair. But if you short change our military in Afghanistan you and the Nation will be paid back in body bags – and it will be entirely your fault. If it were me, I would give McChrystal 50,000 troops.

Tuesday, October 6, 2009

Watching this latest furball over President Obama and Conservatives given his failure to bring home the Olympics for Chicago, I must confess that my emotional response was similar to many on Conservative Talk Radio.

Stage one – The run-up to the Olympic presentations. I was ambivalent about having the Olympics in Chicago. As an American, I wanted to win but I also knew that Chicago would be a horrible place to show off the American spirit and American culture. The violence, corruption, and depravity of Chicago have been on display more than ever before now that we have a hometown guy in the White House. I could think of two dozen cities that would be better than Chicago to host the World’s athletes.

Stage two – the Obamas to the rescue. Given the attention that the War on Terror required, the inattention to General McChrystal, the cratering economy, chaos of health care proposals, and newest jobless rates – I thought that there were much more important things for the American President to worry about than the Olympics of 2016. But then there is a lot of that going around lately. I thought it was foolish to expend the significance and dignity of the office of the President of the United States on something as frivolous as the Olympics.

Stage three – the Obama show. I was floored at the approach that each of the Obamas took to their presentation. Does the First Lady really think that the world really gives a damn about her sitting on her Daddy’s lap watching Carl Lewis? (probably a lie given her age at the time and her father’s infirm health) Or how about the world giving a crap that former President Obama could walk to the Olympics from his home? (the home felon Tony Rezko helped him buy near the venue on property alleged to be owned by Valerie Jarrett) Someone should remind the Obamas that they aren’t the King and Queen of the world, but merely the temporary occupants of the White House. By 2016 Barak Obama will be four years into his attempt to save the legacy of his failed presidency.

Stage four – the result of the first ballot. Okay, I admit it – my reaction can only be described as gleeful. I hate that feeling. I remember it though from watching Jimmy Carter bumble and fumble through four thoroughly painful years in the White House. Like rebellious children, we the voters have to learn that elections have consequences and President Barack Hussein Obama is that consequence. None of us want America to fail, but increasingly we do want Barack Obama to fail – and he isn’t letting us down.

Monday, October 5, 2009

I read once that the Constitutional Convention of 1787 was the greatest collection of “intellectual candle power” in the history of our Nation. Certainly watching the buffoonery of Speaker Pelosi and Leader Reid, one has to be depressed at how low we have sunk since that point. From one of the guys who was there:

"The ordaining of laws in favor of one part of the nation, to the prejudice and oppression of another, is certainly the most erroneous and mistaken policy. An equal dispensation of protection, rights, privileges, and advantages, is what every part is entitled to, and ought to enjoy." --Benjamin Franklin, Emblematical Representations, 1774

Saturday, October 3, 2009

I am astounded that there are no shortage of experts, pundits, and politicians who are surprised by the bad economic news Friday. It didn’t surprise me. I suspect that it didn’t surprise the Congressional Budget Office. You may remember that they were the ones who said before the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 (or Porkulus Bill) was passed that it would be worse in the long run than doing nothing. There is a lot of that going around right now. Passing any of the current health care proposals in Congress would undoubtedly be worse than doing nothing for example.